The Top of the World

1. The Top of the World High Altitude Mountain Climbing

2. Although none of us has experienced high altitude mountain climbing, we can imagine what it must be like to climb some of the world’s tallest mountains. Take a few minutes and using the prereading activity brainstorming list the effects of high altitude mountain climbing on individuals. • Physically • Mentally

3. Welcome to THE DEATH ZONE • 16,000 – 19,000 Feet • 20,000 – 25,000 Feet • ABOVE 25,000 Feet

4. 16,000 – 19,000 Feet • Blood carrying a third less oxygen • Mild bout of the flu mingled with • a three martini hangover • Shortness of breath • Occasional dizziness • Insomnia • Unconscious fear of suffocating • Acute Mountain Sickness • Pulmonary and cerebral edema • Often fatal

5. 20,000 – 25,000 Feet • “You feel like you’re one giant lung, as if breathing is all there is to life.” • Inhaling four times faster than normal and your body still isn’t getting enough O2 • Rib-cracking cough • Digestive tract quits, leaving body starved “that it literally starts to eat itself” • Weird dreams and hallucinations • Judgment goes out the window

6. 25,000 Feet – THE DEATH ZONE • Things go from bad to worse VERY FAST • Brain puts the brakes on muscle activity • Deep chill in your bones • Hypothermia • Collapse • Unconsciousness • DEATH

7. Begin Your Journey to the World’s Tallest Mountain Peaks • Annapurna-- 26,545 Feet • 10th highest mountain in the world • Located in the Himalayas in Nepal • The world’s deadliest mountain to climb with a fatality rate of 41% • First summited on June, 3, 1950 by French team lead by Maurice Herzog

8. Annapurna by Maurice Herzog • Annapurna was dictated by Maurice Herzog from a hospital bed a year after the expedition ended. • Herzog and Lachenal suffered from severe frostbite forcing the amputation of all Herzog’s fingers and toes and all of Lachenal’s toes.

9. What Price Victory? • Herzog loses his gloves • 6th sense that something is wrong • Abnormal heat = avalanche, sinking to their knees • Glare from sun = snow blindness • Sherpas are losing their way • A crack in the snow triggers an avalanche • Herzog falls like a puppet, he’s upside down, the rope is wrapped around his neck and he’s swinging like a pendulum • Herzog strikes the mountain leaving his left arm useless • Alia and Sarki pull Herzog to safety • Lachenal and Rebuffat linger behind the group both suffering from snow blindness • Herzog’s hands are swollen and shredding, they are severely frostbitten • Frostbite is gaining ground, Herzog’s calves and elbows are numb • Herzog struggles with giving up • The sight of his hands makes him physically ill • Finally reach Camp II and “safety” • Must travel for one month out of the mountain • Oudot must amputate Herzog’s fingers and toes and Lachenal’s toes.